Today in Soap Opera History (January 8)

1937: CLARA, LU & EM's Isobel Carothers died at age 37.
1981: KNOTS LANDING's Gary began an affair with Judy (GH's
Jane Elliot). 2001: OLTL's Todd surprised Blair with a new
passport. 2008: DAYS' EJ found John in Stefano's basement.

"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see."
- Winston Churchill

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1937: CLARA, LU & EM actress Isobel Carothers died suddenly at age 37. Clara, Lu, and Em was radio's first network daytime soap opera, beginning June 16, 1930 over WGN-AM Chicago, Illinois. It moved to the Blue Network in 1931 and later NBC.

The show began as a Northwestern University sorority sketch by Louise Starkey (Clara), Isobel Carothers (Lu) and Helen King (Em). Their friends suggested they go on the radio, so the trio approached WGN and did their first shows for no pay.

After Carothers' death, Starkey and King decided not to continue the program. When the program returned with Starkey and King in 1942 on CBS, another of their Northwestern University friends, Harriet Allyn, portrayed Lu. Allyn continued in the 1945 cast as Em, along with Fran Allison as Clara and Dorothy Day as Lu.

1982: On DALLAS, J.R. (Larry Hagman), Bobby (Patrick Duffy) and Ray (Steve Kanaly) went to South America to search for their missing father, Jock, but the only managed to recover his medallion. They returned to Southfork and break the news to Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes).

1993: On THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Molly gave Sheila (Kimberlin Brown) valuable information about Scotty's custody.

2001: On ONE LIFE TO LIVE, Max (James DePaiva) tried to convince Blair (Kassie DePaiva) not to marry Todd. Later, on his jet, Todd revealed a new passport to Blair with the name "Blair Cramer Manning."

2004: Actor Charles Brown died at age 57. He played Russ Anderson in ALL MY CHILDREN as well as roles in LOVING and ANOTHER WORLD.

2008: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, EJ (James Scott) went downstairs at Stefano's mansion and found John Black (Drake Hogestyn) in Rolf's lab.

2009: Actor Don Galloway died at age 71. His soap roles included Buzz Stryker in GENERAL HOSPITAL and Kip Rysdale in THE SECRET STORM.